Best Coast Reveal 'Mean' Inspiration Behind Debut Album at Fun Fun Fun Fest

For their midday Sunday set at Austin's Fun Fun Fun Festival, retro rockers Best Coast were all about the sunshine, both in the weather and their music. Frontwoman Bethany Cosentino tossed her shades into the crowd after opening the set with the yearning lyrics of 'Bratty B.' "I'm seriously going to regret throwing those sunglasses away," Cosentino said before making peace with the loss. "Whatever. They were $9." One song later, she was already donning a new pair.

For their set, Best Coast -- Cosentino, bassist Bobb Bruno and drummer Ali Koehler -- whipped through songs off their debut, 'Crazy for You.' The album is a collection of short pop songs inspired by surf rock and doo-wop that Cosentino wrote after relocating from her native Southern California to New York and then back again. As she put it, much of the songs were about "moving somewhere you don't like and being mean to people."

Watch Best Coast Perform 'The End' at Fun Fun Fun Fest Later in the set she spotted a California flag in the audience. "Lift up your California flag!" she cried and launched into the kindergarten lyrics of 'I Want To.' Cosentino's lyrics are simple: They deal with "needing," wanting" and "loving" over and over again, but her sweet voice kept the tracks from getting too redundant and boring.

"Bobb is so excited to see Mastodon and Suicidal Tendencies. He has to play in a girly pop band but all he wants to do is listen to Godflesh," Cosentino said of the more hardcore acts playing Fun Fun Fun Fest later in the day.

Best Coast ended things with one of their first singles, the punchy 'When I'm With You' followed by 'Each and Every Day.' With those catchy tracks and Cosentino's charm, it was clear how the band has been able to propel itself out of obscurity only eight months ago into being one of most anticipated acts at Fun Fun Fun Fest.